Espionage by East Germany

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Regarding East German espionage in the United Kingdom involving Vic Allen, Robin Pearson and Milita Norwood, what action has finally been taken against them; and whether research into their activities revealed allies and agents working for East Germany from within the National Executive of the Labour Party, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, or the offices of the major political parties and the national trade unions.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: I refer the noble Lord to the Statement made by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, Mr Mike O'Brien, in another place, on 21 December 1999, Official Report, cols. 185-188WH, in which among other things he explained the reason why it would not be appropriate to reveal details about the investigation of individual cases.

Espionage by East Germany

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What research they have undertaken into recent revelations of activities of the East German Secret Police within the Royal Institute of International Affairs, the Labour Party National Executive Committee, Conservative Party Headquarters and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; and what action is being taken against those already uncovered.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: All leads to alleged espionage activity are examined and where appropriate investigated by the Security Service. It is for the prosecuting authorities to consider whether criminal proceedings should be commenced in any particular case.

South-east England: Distribution of New Dwellings

Lord Ezra: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Chairman of the SERPLAN Members Policy Group has advised on the distribution of dwellings to be built in the South East up to 2016 in the light of the policies set out in the Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 and of the proposed changes to the Draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9), as requested by the Minister for Housing and Planning in March; and, if so, when this advice will be made public.

Lord Whitty: No, SERPLAN have not advised further on the distribution of dwellings. The Government are carefully considering all the representations received on draft regional planning guidance.

Central Line Breakdown, 4 September 2000

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many commuters suffered prolonged delays when the Central Line of the London Underground was shut for nearly four hours after 6 pm on 4th September.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The incident at Liverpool Street affected the whole of the Central Line, and commuters on other lines as well. An accurate estimate of the numbers involved is not available.

Central Line Breakdown, 4 September 2000

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why a 30 amp fuse on a new underground train could not be replaced immediately in the incident on London Underground on 4 September, and whether such delays as occurred indicate a deficiency in the design of the train.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: There is no 30 amp fuse on the type of train in question. The reason the train would not move on this occasion was the tripping (within design specification) of four filter charging circuit breakers. These are designed to protect the traction motors. The reason for tripping is the subject of an ongoing official investigation, as are the position of the circuit breakers and their inability to be reset when the train is in service in the tunnel. A summary of the results and recommendations of this investigation will be published by London Underground in due course.

Central Line Breakdown, 4 September 2000

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why there were not enough oxygen masks to treat passengers suffering from the effects of heat following the breakdown on the Central Line of the London Underground on 4 September.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The official investigation of this incident, which is still under way, has not revealed any evidence that the provision of emergency equipment was in any way lacking. As there are no requirements for London Underground to provide and maintain oxygen masks under current legislation, this specialist service was provided by the London Ambulance Service. In the region of 14 fully equipped ambulance units were deployed to Liverpool Street to treat those suffering from the effects of heat.

Fishing Vessels: Fatal Accidents

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list the names of trawler operators operating three or more vessels in the United Kingdom whose trawlers have been involved in fatal accidents during the last five years, giving dates of incidents and numbers of fatalities for each company.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Fishing vessel fatal accidents where the owner/agent has three or more vessels (at 3 October 2000) 1995-2000
		
			 Company Date Number of fatalities 
			 Caley Fisheries Ltd 7 June 1999 1 
			 Denholm Fishselling Ltd 13 May 2000 1 
			 Don Fishing Company Ltd 27 April 1995 1 
			 Flagperry Ltd 9 November 1997 1 
			 Grampian Sea Fishing Ltd 27 July 1998 1 
			 Jack Robinson (Trawlers) Ltd 6 September 1997 11 January 2000 8 
			 RH James 10 November 1997 1 
			 Peter and J Johnstone Ltd 4 March 1995 1 
			 Kinlochbervie Fishselling  Co Ltd 23 January 1999 1 
			 Mr Peter Riley 28 October 1999 1 
			 The Colne Shipping Co Ltd 1 July 1997 1 
			 Mr J Thomas 25 October 1997 1

Negligence Claims against Judges

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 28 July (WA 114), why they will not bring forward legislation to permit claims for negligence against judges; and why they think that this is unnecessary.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: In the Government's view, any such legislation would improperly undermine the principle of judicial independence and adversely affect the certainty of the legal process. It would be for the courts to consider and if appropriate review the common law principles which have been established in the existing case law in this area.

Needle Exchange Services

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many units there are in the United Kingdom which provide facilities for needle exchange for intravenous drug users; and whether these have increased or decreased in number in recent years.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Data from the drug action team template returns for 1999-2000 show a combined total of 322 statutory and voluntary sector providers of needle exchange services.
	The directory Drug Problems: where to get help, published by the voluntary sector organisation the Standing Conference on Drug Abuse in 1998, lists 124 voluntary and statutory agencies which provide needle exchange facilities for injecting drug misusers. These data are not comparable due to their different methods of collection.
	The Government recognise the very important role played by needle exchanges in helping to prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases, particularly among people who might not otherwise engage with services.

Dental Patients: Sedation

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are satisfied that an adequate number of dentists and dental nurses are being trained in sedation; and whether they have any plans to increase the number of training courses to make sedation for dental patients more widely available.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have accepted the recommendations in the report from the review of general anaesthesia and sedation for dental treatment which was led by the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Dental Officer. We want to see methods of pain and anxiety control other than general anaesthesia used whenever possible and are exploring the need, and ways, for increasing the provision of training in sedation.

Chief Medical and Chief Dental Officers

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list the names of the Chief Medical and Chief Dental Officers since 1960, showing their period in office and indicating whether the position was full or part time.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) since 1960 have been:
	Sir George Godber, 1960-1973;
	Sir Henry Yellowlees; 1973-1983;
	Sir Donald Acheson, 1983-1991;
	Sir Kenneth Calman, 1991-1998;
	Professor Liam Donaldson, 1998-
	The information available centrally about Chief Dental Officers (CDOs) since 1960 indicates that the record is:
	W G Senior, -1961;
	W Holgate, 1961-1971;
	G D Gibb, 1971-1983;
	M C Downer, 1983-1990;
	R B Mouatt, 1990-1996;
	R Wild, 1996-2000.
	Information about the working hours of previous CMOs and CDOs is not available. Previous CDOs have combined their duties with other work in the National Health Service. Until 1990 the post-holder also headed the Dental Reference Service, which is now managed by the Dental Practice Board. Mr Mouatt advised a regional health authority on dental public health issues.

Chief Dental Officer: New Appointment

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, in view of their statement in the document Modernising NHS Dentistry that "in the past, it has been too easy for dentistry to be overlooked", the position of the Chief Dental Officer has become a part-time appointment.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: In Modernising NHS Dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan, the Government recognise that dentistry needs to be made a higher priority across the whole National Health Service. I am delighted that Dame Margaret Seward has joined the NHS Executive to help with that. During her time as Chief Dental Officer, Dame Margaret will concentrate specifically on the dental strategy and will provide an experienced and expert focus for a wider team implementing the measures that the strategy contains. I have every confidence in Dame Margaret's ability to make a significant contribution to its success.

Residential, Nursing Home and Intermediate Care: Allocation of Funds

Lord Lipsey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give a breakdown of how the additional £360 million they are making available to assist people to meet the cost of their residential and nursing home care will be allocated and a similar breakdown of the £900 million they are making available for intermediate care.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Details of what is covered by the £360 million and the £900 million are set out in paragraphs 15.18 and 15.14 of the NHS Plan, copies of which are available in the Library. The proposed allocation of funds to enable the NHS and local councils to achieve these and other service improvements announced in the NHS Plan will be set out in the NHS and local government allocation announcements in the autumn. In line with government policy, resources will not be ring-fenced unless this is necessary to secure outcomes required.

Computers in Schools

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the announcement that 86 per cent of primary schools and 98 per cent of secondary schools are online, what is the average number of computer terminals in these schools and how many of these computers are located exclusively in the classroom

Baroness Blackstone: Statistics published by the Department for Education and Employment on 6 September indicated that there is one computer for every 12.6 pupils in primary schools, and for every 7.9 pupils in secondary schools. This compares well with the corresponding figures from 1998 (when there was an average of one computer for every 17.6 pupils in primary schools, and for every 8.7 pupils in secondary schools) and demonstrates that schools are on course to meet the challenging targets which we have set for 2004--computer to pupil ratios in primary and secondary schools of 1:8 and 1:5 respectively.
	The average number of computers per school, and the average number of computers per school available mainly for curriculum purposes, will be included in a further statistical bulletin due for publication on 11 October. As with the highly encouraging Internet connectivity figures referred to in the Question, these data will be based on a survey of schools conducted in April 2000.

Ministers' Speeches to Parliament: Release to Media

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is the practice of Ministers to release to the media the text of their speeches and statements to be made in Parliament before they are actually delivered; if so, when this practice began; and whether, in the light of experience, Ministers consider it preferable to continue or discontinue this practice.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: The GICS Handbook makes it clear that if a Minister is to make a statement in Parliament, it is helpful to provide the Press Gallery with copies of the text on the understanding that they undertake not to use the statement until it has been checked against delivery. This has been the practice of successive Administrations. There are no plans to change existing practice. Copies of The GICS Handbook are in the Library of the House and on the GICS website www.gics.gov.uk/handbook.